gms | German Medical Science

Purpose: To introduce a handy surgical simulator named KITARO for practicing phaco surgery. KITARO is functional both as Dry Lab for surgical practice at the desk without using phaco machine and as Wet Lab for surgical practice in the operating room with phaco machine.

Methods: KITARO was developed as a result of our six inventions. 1. Artificial anterior capsule made of polyester film with special printing. 2. Artificial nuclei made of special polymer clay for Dry Lab. 3. Plastic pre-divided nuclei for Dry Lab. 4. Artificial eyeball wall using the disposable sheet made of glass fiber and polyvinyl chloride foam. 5. Oculomotor device. 6. Artificial crystalline lens which consists of nucleus made of agar with calcium and colcothar, cortex made of starch paste and anterior capsule made of polyester film with special printing for Wet Lab.

Results: Capsulorhexis, nuclear dividing technique, wound construction and IOL insertion can be simulated easily and repeatedly at the desk at home and in the operating room. Quality surgical simulation very similarly to the human eye is possible, because KITARO is equipped with quality artificial anterior capsule, nucleus, cortex, and sclera/cornea.

Conclusions: We believe that most effective education system in phaco surgery is firstly learn the instrument manipulation with KITARO Dry Lab and secondly learn the machine operation with Wet Lab using KITARO or porcine eye. KITARO is very useful as a surgical education tool in phaco surgery.